Bird of the day!

[Paul mabbott]

I hadn't considered that. I found a big scattering of feathers this morning but no blood, flesh or whatever. Another intriguing thing is that all the feathers were white-cream with no dark areas or patterning. I suspect it may have been a long-tailed tit? So the sparrowhawk answers another qestion of, 'What was it doing on the ground?'.

Originally Posted by Gaina

I would like a moment of silence for Mr and Mrs Dove.

Last Tuesday, we discovered two piles of collared Dove feathers and some spots of blood in the garden within a few hours of each other. The doves - who visit the bird table at the same time every day - have not returned since then. I suspect Mr Sparrow Hawk was the culprit, because I inspected the feathers and they had been cleanly plucked out rather than ripped out courtesy of a cat or fox.

It's a shame, but at least they ended up as a much needed meal for another creature .

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by smartie

Mine today was the first blackcap I have ever seen in my garden. Cheered up an otherwise dismal day attempting to tidy the garage It appeared and disappeared for most of the day so I'm hoping it plans to stay a while.

I also saw a Blackcap in my garden for the first time today, it was in and out of the garden for most of the day. I also saw a Brambling - I couldn't believe my eyes. It must be the recent cold weather. I managed to get a shot of the Blackcap although it was very wary and wouldn't let me near it. I didn't manage to get a shot of the Brambling, it fed on the ground under the feeders for a couple of mins but then disappeared. It must have just been passing through the neighbourhood.



Matt

[Pete Collins]

I nominate the humble Wood Pigeon as my Bird of the Day! Or rather Birds of the Day as there were 300-400 of them, the largest flock of Wood Pigeons I think I've ever seen. They were near Hambleden, Buckinghamshire.

[pressld2]

Pintail for me today. Seen at Elmley Marshes from the Wellmarsh hide. I saw one at the WWT's Welney reserve a couple of years ago but there were at least three at Elmley today.



Dave P.

[sleipnerofasgard]

My belated bird of the day is this nuthatch who was very accomodating

[Kayleigh]

Mine was a little egret flying across a field this morning, I was on my way to work so couldn't stop and watch it..

[GuyF]

Originally Posted by Ollie

A couple of very nice birds there Guy, not every day that you come acroos Woodlark and Crossbill

Thanks Roger, I was so pleased to finally see a Woodlark, and the Crossbills were very nice too.
Today my birds of the day are Woodlarks again, I returned to the same place and found a pair of Woodlarks, one of them performing their lovely song.
I managed to improve on my last shot this time.

No Crossbills this time, but there were loads of Dartford Warblers, none that would let me take a good photo though! This is the best that I got.

Guy

[aestarte]

YAY my bird of the day is collared dove, we have a pair that come every year and they turned up this morning all loved up on an old antiquated birdtable that we dont use anymore but we do for the doves so i have put loads of food on it for them to have a romantic meal. Fi. X X X X

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Nothing dodgy about that shot.
What a nice surprise - dyou get many Shrikes in the New Forest Deer Stalker?
Doug

Sorry Doug, nearly missed your post.

For the last few winters there have been about 4 on the Forest & they have mostly occupied the same territories every year.
That one was the second individual this winter, havn't bothered with the other two yet.

[Goatboy]

I was very pleased to see three long eared owls roosted in my local woods today.

I say I saw them, they were tucked in to the highest branches of the tallest tree so were hardly easy to view. A nice spot nevertheless.